Running for Boston

This morning I went for a 4 mile run, but it was different than normal. I thought so much about what happened yesterday at the Boston Marathon. It hit me really hard as I have crossed finished lines and I thought a lot about when I was working for a race management company as well. I was sitting silently at my desk at work, with my facebook news feed filled with people checking in letting their loved ones know they were safe and it was surreal to me that this was happening.

I can tell you, every time I cross a finish line, there is a sense of pride. Whether it’s a new personal best, a race I never though I’d run, something I ran with a friend, from a 5K to a Marathon, it doesn’t matter the distance, there’s always a sense of accomplishment. It’s always exciting and undoubtedly the best part of any running event.

I thought a lot about my past job. The most special thing to me about that job was the finish line. It’s this cumulative effort for the race directors and the runners. I would always find time, no matter what race we were at to watch the finish line, and usually it would fire me up to sign up for my next race.

When a participant crosses the finish line, you can see their raw emotion and feeling pouring out as they cross the finish line. You see the signs of the spectators, cheering their loved one on, you see your hard work coming to fruition. Participants see their hard work paying off. Volunteers placing medals on necks, the clock continuing to run as more and more people cross the line. Hands over their heads, big grins, and such a sense of pride. It was my favorite part event, just standing there watching strangers cross the finish line. You plan for runners cramping, fainting, injuries like pulled hamstrings, or scraped knees, but nothing like this. Nothing where someone would blatantly attack something so innocent.

I cannot put into words my sadness of this event, and how they tried to take away the euphoric feeling from so many people, and took the lives of innocent people.

I’ve seen so many runners come together, and I know the running community is amazing. I see it through the comments on my blog, the races I’ve run, and the volunteers and community who stand beside each other, and I feel like event is no different. I know it will bring runners together even more, in sadness and in celebrating a sport we will always love.

My heart breaks for those who had to experience this. So this morning when I ran, I ran for Boston. I will continue to run with them on my mind and my heart.

I did a 4 mile run this afternoon – I intended to do 5, but ended up running instead on the treadmill – my enemy. Boston is fairly close to home for me. I think most all of us runners had friends/family there or other bloggers we knew there. Such a sad thing. I have been reading all the thoughts of my fellow running bloggers today.

That was really beautiful, Dani. Obviously I have been a runner and run a few races but to read it from the perspective of someone putting on the race is something different. You did a good job sharing your thoughts. <3

Thanks for this. It helps to come to your fellow runners at a time like this. I have friends that were there, thankfully all o.k.
I too ran for Boston last night. It was a totally different feeling I had last night as I ran.

I was kicked off the course at mile 20 as they cancelled the race and just heartbroken for so many reasons. I can’t put it into words. All I can say is, when my body recovers from running 20 miles, I am going to go back to where I left off and finish that last 6.2 miles. I have to. I have to finish. What other choice do I have? I can’t let them take my dream away from me. I wrote about my experience on my blog: http://beyondtheboards.net/2013/04/16/my-city-my-marathon/

Check Out My Book!

Released in October of 2015, I wrote Running for Women to help everyone to embrace running. Starting out can be intimidating but this book will help you tackle every step at your own pace. I hope you find it exciting, helpful and motivating!

Get Race Day Ready!

This form needs Javascript to display, which your browser doesn't support. Sign up here instead